I enjoyed Jacob Steinberg’s piece on Thomas Tuchel. Jacob covered him at Chelsea too, so knows. has observed him; I bet I’m not the only person to put TC Boyle’s Water Music on their wishlist.
“You wrote ‘Cristiano Ronaldo, his inability to press making it almost impossible to play a modern style’”, says Alex. “I wonder how the reigning world champions were capable of it despite being led by a man who hasn’t defended at all for more than a decade? Why is this narrative so much more emphasised with Ronaldo than so many other players who offer nothing defensively?”
Argentina had Rodrigo De Paul doing Lionel Messi’s running – I’m not sure Portugal have anyone able to do a similar job. It’s also the case that Messi offers more than just the final touch, which Ronaldo doesn’t really,. that without him, Argentina wouldn’t have got close to winning the last tournament, whereas I think Portugal would be better without Ronaldo because the rest of their attack is so good. Finally. I think the eye test confirms that – I watch Portugal frustrated they don’t have a more mobile man up front; watching Argentina, I don’t feel that way.
Email! “Let’s not forget that Cristiano Ronaldo. in an alternative World Cup not driven by profit, would be serving a three-game ban now for violent behaviour,” remembers Justin Kavanagh. “But Infantino has learned to honour the time-traditions of the host country. where laws are just for little people, inapplicable to the rich.”
Yup, as the story below illustrates. I guess in the context of the competition, the decision to let Ronaldo off has been largely ignored because there’s so much worse going on,. it is a stain on the competition’s sporting integrity.
In the context, obviously.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how Axel Tuanzebe does in this one. As a teenager, he was viewed as a blue-chip prospect,. his performance when Manchester United won away to PSG in 2020 was magnificent. But injuries took their toll. things haven’t quite worked out for him since, but it was his goal that took DRC here and I’m expecting a decent performance from him because his top level is a good level.
I’m glad Portugal have played a proper winger. not Félix, who now looks destined not to fulfil the potential he had at 19, when Atlético Madrid paid £113m for him. Neto has pace, the ability to go both ways,. offers more out of possession than Leão, so the selection makes sense, another quick player to offset Ronaldo’s lack of speed.
DRC, meanwhile, move to a five at the back. I'm a little surprised Noah Sadiki has left out, but the three picked ahead of him have earned their spots.
Taking a closer look at the Portugal team, Dias is absent injured,. it’s perhaps a little surprising to see Gonçalo Inácio, whose passing has been so important, left out. Otherwise, the XI is pretty much as expected – the only choice Martínez had to make was who to pick in the left-wing berth,. he’s gone for Pedro Neto, not João Félix or Rafael Leão.
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Araújo, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Bernardo Silva, Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo. Subs: Semedo, Dalot, Rui Silva, Conceição, João Félix, Guedes, Inácio, Trincão, Sá, Ramos, Nunes, Leão, Neves, Samú Costa, Dias.
Congo DR (5-3-2): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kapaudi, Masuaku; Moutoussamy, Mukau, Kayembe; Bakaumbu, Wissa. Subs: Banza, Batubinsika, Bongoda, Elia, Epolo, Fayulu, Kakuta, Mayele, Kalulu, Kayembe, Cipenga, Mbuku, Pickel, Sadiki, Tshibola.
Referee: Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al Jassim (Qatar)
Rui Patricio; Cédric. Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro; Carvalho; Sanches, Silva, João Mário; Nani, Ronaldo: names branded on to the soul of all Portuguese football fans. And yet the team which won the 2016 Euros, a first international title after a long wait. much pain, is so inferior to the one that’s since failed even to get close, it’s almost silly.
Football. though, is an art not a science, the job of balancing a team needing feel as much as calculation – feel which eluded Fernando Santos and, so far, has eluded Roberto Martínez too.
Previously, it’s been easy to blame Cristiano Ronaldo, his inability to press making it almost impossible to play a modern style. by whose mere presence everyone connected with team seems awed. Now, though, the tactical meta has changed a little – the best teams often sit off –. the players behind him are so good, their standing in the game so high, they really should be able to carry the physical slack while facilitating finishing that remains excellent. Their time is now – but also, their time was in 2020, 2022. 2024 – with no guarantee that Bruno Fernandes, Berrnardo Silva, Rúben Dias and João Cancelo will sustain their current levels until 2028. That’s a lot of pressure for a group who’ve not worn it well.
Nor will DRC make things easy. Previously renowned for chaotic attacking, under Sébastien Desabre they’ve morphed into a doughty defensive outfit, one that is hard to penetrate. struggles to penetrate. They had to fight to qualify, needing a playoff. extra time, but now they’re here, participating in their first World Cup since 1974, they won’t be easy to shake. And, as Spain discovered, any team that is disciplined. organised can be hard to break down, the pedigree of the DRC back four – it features Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba and Arthur Masuaku – of far greater pedigree that Cape Verde’s.
Of course, the likeliest outcome is a comfortable Portugal win but, as the game –. real life – never tire of reminding us, they don’t care for what should happen, only for what does happen. The line between immortality and ignominy is thin.
Kick-off: 12pm local, 1pm EDT, 6pm BST, 3am AEST
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